An Ocado-backed (LSE:OCDO) sustainable indoor farm aimed at growing fresh groceries with renewable energy has opened in Gloucestershire.
Jones Food Company (JFC), the group behind “vertical farms”, described the warehouse-based site as one of the world's” most advanced”.
The facility, JFC2, aims to cultivate a variety of crops using renewable energy sources, stacking layers of plants above one another from the floor to the ceiling.
At the hydroponic farm, JFC grows a range of crops including basil, coriander, flat-leaf parsley, dill, green lettuce, red lettuce and baby leaf pak choi.
JFC was founded in 2017 by James Lloyd-Jones, with the latest farm expanding on the company's initial site in Lincolnshire and an innovation centre in Bristol.
Lloyd-Jones, founder and chief executive of JFC, said: "This farm represents a coming-of-age for agricultural technology in the UK; we have now cracked the code for accessible, sustainable, premium food being grown all-year-round, at a super-competitive price. Commercial success in this sector has always been the challenge, but this farm smashes it."
"At Ocado Group, we are passionate about the long-term potential of vertical farming for both the food industry and for the environment,” said Ocado Group’s chief financial officer, Stephen Daintith.
“We are confident in JFC's leadership and their ability to execute on their vision - we look forward to supporting them on the way ahead”.